The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-18
WHEN GOULD BORROWED SIS.
How He Lost His Tannery in Pennsyl-
vania Thirty Years Ago.
From the NeU York World.


WILKEsBARRE, PA, Oct. 12.-The news
that the Western Union Telegraph Com
pany has swallowed up the Baltimore and
Ohio organization, and the fact that Jay
Gould is the head and front of the latter
company, recall people here the time, less
than thirty years ago, when Jay Gould was
bankrupt and practically penniless neigh
Dor. Stanley Woodward, additional Law
Judge of the courts of this county, was the
receiver of the firm of which Jay
Gould was a junior member, and
which for some years prior to 1861
had a tannery at GouldsbOro, in Buck town
ship, then in this county but now in Lacka-
wanna county. The neighborhood was
primitive at that time, little clearing sur
rounded by dense forests, and it is still pretty
much the same Zadoc Pratt, a we'll known
tanner in New York sent Gould there. The
tannery was located about six miles distant
from Gouldsboro Station and the hides
were hauled to and the leather from the
tannery over plank road built for the pur-
pose. Leupp Lee & Co. were importers of
hides in New York They brought large
quantities of hides from Buenos Ayres and
sent them to Gouldsboro to be tanned, and
Jay Gould superintendent the process and
kept the accounts. For time the affairs
mingly. Then the partners quarreled
and in a little time the dispute became very
bitter.
Actual war followed Lee organized a
force of daring men and marched upon the
tannery. Gould had also organized force
and held the tannery, which he had strongly
barricaded in anticipation of the attack.
Lee demanded capitulation. Gould refused.
A hot conflict ensued, i'll which not only
sticks and stones, but rifles and bullets, were
used But Gould held possession. Suisse
quently all were arrested. Then proceed
ings were begun on the equity side of the
court for a dissolution of the partnership
Leupp, Lee & Co were represented in the
suit by Evarts, Southmayd & Choate, the
head of the firm being the present United
States Senator from New York. Gould's
attorneys were Messrs, McClintock q Mich
olson, of this city.
1t is remembered that in these proceedings
Gould gave many evidences of his remark
able powers of intuition, rapidity of thought
and promptitude in action for which he has
since become famous AS in all equity pro-
ceedings, many affidavits as to particular
matters were constantly being required,
and Gould would sit at the table listening to
the lawyers on both sides discussing the
necessity or non-necessity for an affidavit,
and by the time the court had decreed that
it should or could be made it would be ready
in Goulds own handwriting. He would
gather an understanding of what was want
ed from the speeches and proceed immedi-
ately to the making of it. He wrote a good,
clear hand and very rapidly Judge Wood
ward says he cannot recall any other in
stance Of equal quickneSs and aptitude ON
the part of a client.
AS result of the suit dissolution of the
firm was decreed by the court and Judge
Woodward, then a young lawyer, glad
enough of such a windfall, was appointed
receiver He took possession of the tan
merry, from which, however, nearly every
thing of value had been removed. There
was about Sc, 600 on credits, and the tan
nery, tools. stock, horses, mules and personal
property generally, amounted to about 81,
900 more. The receivership continued
through several years before all the tangled
accounts could be Strengthened out. What
remained at the settlement went to Leupp,
| Lee & Co, Gould's debts amounting to
more than his share of the proceeds. He
was a bankrupt. and the best evidence that
such was the case is the fact that, before
leaving, which he did soon after the receiver
was appointed, he borrowed So of j. Lewis
Simmons or Lew" as he is familarly
called. the keeper of the little hotel of Goulds-
boro Station, to help pay his expenses back
to New York. Simmons is there yet, and
the IS is still owing, though, of course,
the great speculator has forgotten the debt,
or he would have returned it long ago with
interest.
The next his acquaintance heard of Gould
was that he had been made Superintendent
of a railroad in Vermont. A little later he
was President of the road. His career since
is public property.
Years afterward Judge Woodward met
Gould at Saratoga. They recognized each
other. Gould told Woodward, in answer to
the latters question. that his stewardship
had been well performed. %
Then said the Judge, loosely, u have
only this to ask, that if you should ever need
receiver again you will remember the fact
and give me the place"
Gould answered with smile eloquent of
his conviction that he was not at all likely
ever again to be at the mercy of a re-
ceiver, and it is probably safe enough to
assume that he will at least never be re-
duced to the necessity of borrowing So to
pay his railroad fare on journey in search
Of a job.
1t was but twenty-six years ago that
these things happened, and the fact that in
that short time he has climbed from such
dire straits to the possession Of millions and
the place of dictator of practically all the
telegraph and much of the railroad in
terests of the country is almost as marvel :
Gus as the widest recitals of the writers of
fiction.
American Taste and Skill,
4 Il, prN6uep